Jamaica will host the region’s highest forum for reviewing progress on reducing disaster losses in Latin America and the Caribbean in July 2020 as the year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season gets underway.
The 7th Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction will be the first in the series to be staged in the Caribbean and takes place as UN Member States strive to meet the 2020 deadline for having in place national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, are holding a high-level symposium on 27 June to discuss how national social protection programmes and systems can play a greater role in disaster risk management and in emergency response.
Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, June 12th, 2019 (CDEMA) – The annual CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) Training Workshop officially commenced in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday June 10th hosted by CDEMA and the Regional Security System Headquarters (RSS HQ). Twenty-eight persons from military, fire and police operations in CDEMA’s Participating States will be trained for disaster response until June 18th.
Bridgetown, Barbados, May 31st, 2019 (CDEMA) - The 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season is officially under way and CDEMA is strengthening its forces to respond effectively to Participating States. Executive Director of CDEMA Ronald Jackson has assured that many strides have been taken over the past year to reassess its plans. Speaking at a press conference held on May 31st, Jackson highlighted a report by Colorado State University which predicted 13 named hurricanes. Five are likely to become major hurricanes and two have the potential to be above category three.
Read more: CDEMA continues to strengthen its mechanism in preparation for 2019 Hurricane Season
Roseau , Dominica, May 20th, 2019 (CDEMA) - Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis have commenced consultations toward the development of a National Safe School Policy. The Consultations are being held over a two week period, from May 13 – 24, 2019. The National Safe School Policy will provide the context for the amendment of existing legislation to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction and environmental protection measures for schools in the implementing countries.
Read more: Four Countries in the Caribbean undertake National Safe School Policy Consultations
Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, May 1st, 2019 (CDEMA) – Five (5) countries: Curacao, Grenada, Jamaica, Sint Marteen and Suriname adhered to the Caribbean Safe School Initiative and adopt the Antigua and Barbuda Declaration on School Safety during the 2nd Caribbean Safe School Ministerial Forum. The forum was held from April 29 to 30, 2019 in Kingstown and hosted by the Ministry of Education, National Reconciliation, Ecclesiastical Affairs and Information.
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, April 25th, 2019 (DDME) - The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) is inviting consultants to submit Expressions of Interest for the provision of consultancy services for the development of a Sustainable Management Plan for Mangroves in the British Virgin Islands.
Read more: DDM Seeks Consultancy Services For Management Of Mangroves
Bridgetown, Barbados, April 18th, 2019 (CDEMA) - Today, in Barbados, Airbnb and The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) signed an agreement whereby Airbnb and CDEMA will collaborate to strengthen emergency preparedness, response, and recovery -- including facilitating infrastructure for temporary emergency housing -- throughout the CDEMA Participating States. The signing comes a little over a month before the start of the Atlantic Hurricane season, positioning the organizations to work together during times of peak need.
The Resilient Environment and Agricultural Caribbean Habitats (REACH) Project was officially launched in Saint Lucia on April 1st and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on April 4th, 2019.
This project, with a duration of 1 year, aims at assisting small farmers and their communities in managing and reducing the risks associated with the effects of climate change on the agriculture sector.
